One way we can do that is to make available the Rapid Prototype technology which is housed in an Industrial Technology Department laboratory on the campus of UNK. This technology has expanded as a tool of preference to a broad based set of applications throughout the fields of manufacturing, design/build, medical architectural, and many others!
The NU Foundation provided funds to purchase a Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM) Rapid Prototyping system (Stratasys Vantage SE) which creates three-dimensional (3D) models from two-dimensional drawings using a non-hazardous plastic resin. This additive manufacturing process, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), can "grow" a CAD design into a full-sized part....tough enough to be used for manufacturing tools and end-use parts. It creates plastic parts by applying real thermoplastics in layers from the bottom up. This simplified description of the FDM process may help describe the steps to the end product.
- A computer model is designed
- Then the design information gets copied to the machine
- A thermoplastic material (ABS or PC/ABS) in the form of a filament feeds into temperature-controlled extrusion heads (1 & 5)
- The filament is then heated to a semi-liquid state (4)
- The head extrudes and deposits the material in think layers (~0.127 mm) onto a foam or acrylic sheet base (3)
- The material then solidifies and laminates itself to the preceding layer in ~0.01s (6)
- The second nozzle squeezes out similar material for support structure if it is needed (2)
The FDM Vantage SE gives various University stakeholders (students, faculty, community/businesses) the power to produce real parts from production-grade thermoplastics, direct from digital files. Materials available at UNK's Rapid Prototype Laboratory include ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic and PC-ABS (poy-carbonate ABS blend).
Our fee structure is a cost-recovery system based on materials used and personnel time involved. Our motive is not profit, but rather education and product/business assistance. If your business has a need for a life-sized, working model of a design, part, tool, etc, we invite you to complet the "Contact Us" form so that we can determine your needs and have one of our professionals call you to determine the scope of the project and estimate the costs of the project. You may also call or email us to discuss your needs:
Shawn Kaskie
Director, Center for Rural Research & Development (CBT)
308-865-8135 (Office)
kaskiesc@unk.edu
1.) Task Lighting of Kearney, NE has used the FDM Vantage SE to help design lighting solutions for their customers.
2.) Red Eye is the on-demand service for Stratasys, the maker of the Vantage SE machine at UNK. They have several case studies sharing how rapid prototyping has been used in several industries for many uses. One example is for an auto engine part during a restoration. To see other case studies, please visit RedEye's website.
3.) View thisYouTube video describing how Tape Wrangler used the Stratasys FDM technology to speed up their product development. Or this YouTube video showing how the Omega Envoy Project printed a wheel assembly and a LDV engine.
4.) Here is a quick video describing and showing a part made with the Stratasys FDM technology.
5.) Visit the Stratasys company website.